Previously a Grammar School and then a community school administered by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, Smithills School converted to academy status on 1 January 2014. However the school continues to coordinate with Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council for admissions.
Smithills School offers GCSEs and BTECs as programmes of study for pupils.
This school was used in the filming of the first series of 4 o'clock club, and was known as Elmsbury High in the TV show.[citation needed]